The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-05-11
E,fcr Knifc-IIanllcs,

Of Queensland, Australia, and New
Guinea flow the waters Of Torres
straits. The straits are eighty miles
wide, filled with Islands, shoals, and
reots, and amid these The pearl shell
fisheries of Queensland arc situated.
The product is shipped to the United
States and Europe and used for knife
handles, buttons, combs, and orna-
mental work. Most OF the vessels
engaged in the business belong to
sydney. Ono OF two American vessels
have also been employed. The vessels
pay Il license fee to Queensland and are
taxed for the land used in connection
with tho fisheries. a failure TO take
ont a license is liable TO Il fine Of three
times the amoun Of the fee. In 1883
there were 206 vessels engaged in the
work, employing 1900 men.
The dress OF the divers is heavier
than is seen here and IS made OF solid
sheet India rubber, covered on both
sides with canvas; the helmet Is timed
copper with three glasses, II in front
and II on each side, to give the woarer
a good chance to see his surroundings.
Small iron bars protect the glasses from
injury. There Is a double collar on the
helmet, the inner one coming up around
the neck and the other fastened to tho
dress. The breast-plate is made Of
timed copper. with Il valve by which
the diver can regulate the pressure Of
the atmosphere. A small hose supplies
the necessary air, and a signal line is
tied to the waist Of the dress. The
whole OUTFIT costs $500.
The vessels 10 Dat in fleets with pro-
VISIONS Tor two weeks. When thc
ground. Is reached the diver ZOOS down
fiNfd hnd3 q spot @Ilera Ne Giialia arc
pltuly. he signals 10 tb05b. aboYe.to
cast anchor and proceeds totiN tho bag
t!ulb lie carries. When Inn it IS drawn.
up and again sent down. In this way
the work Is carried Oh for hours, dur
ing which time the diver remains under
water. Care has to be used in taking
the shells, as when they are touched on
the wrong side they close UP, sometimes
taking the divers fingers IN q wise like
grip. When this occurs he must rise
to the surface Of the water and have it
removed.
Some Of the boats are not provided
With divers outfits and depend on ex-
pert swimmers, who dive down, seize Il
she'll and throw it into the boat, and,
after getting back their breath, dive
again. lHo NlVCIS cdIIl lTOIu SOU 10
$3.50 Il month. Generally they sign
shipping articles for three years for
regular wages and Il certain per cent. in
tho amount of she'll taken. Some make
rs much as $500 a month. The crews
are mostly South Sea Islanders, b1aiays
and Chinese. Tenders who assist the
divers are paid $l2 q month, and q
small interest in the catch. The boats
having no diving apparatus are idle in
stormy weather, and from December to
March, but the men are paid for full
time. The swimmers get from So to IS
per month.
At Torres Straits no organized effort
has been made to gather the pearls that
are found, and most OF them are taken
by men who secrete them until a chance
offers to dispose OF them. Sometimes
this is done by swallowing them. A
number Of handsome specimens have
come from these fisheries. The Euro
pean and American demand regulates
the price OF shells at the fishing ground
aud varies from $6.25 to $3.50 per ton.
The shipments to America are increas-
Ing, but much Of 1t arrives via London.
Young shells are the best and command
Il much higher price than the old.
--.----Ss 0~o-----
mo Fox.